IF YOU'RE GOING...

The wedding of Britain’s Prince William and Catherine Middleton was merely the latest chapter in this Gothic treasure’s 1,000-year life. The site, first used by Benedictine monks in the 10th century, has served every British coronation since 1066. Henry III began the modern building in 1245; other royals expanded and renovated it over the next 500 years. The Abbey contains the graves of 17 monarchs as well as those of magnificent commoners including Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, and Sir Isaac Newton. A staggering sweep of history in a timeless building: What better combination for those seeking the heart of England?

AAA can help arrange your trip to England or nearly any other place on earth. For information, visit AAA.com/travel.

Photography courtesy Pawel Libera/Corbis

This article was first published in November 2011. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.